Register regulator



Nov. 11, 1941. GULUKSEN 2,262,362

REGISTER REGULATOR Filed Sept. '7, 1939 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 5 4 ,6 F00 60/)10'6/2 BY WMCWMW ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 11, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGISTER REGULATOR Pennsylvania ApplicationSeptember 7, 1939, Serial No. 293,736

12 Claims.

My invention relates to electrical control systems for apparatusoperating on material.

More specifically, this invention relates to electrical control systemsinvolving thermionic means and light-sensitive means for controlling therelative positions and relative speeds of certain pai ts of a machineoperating on a web of material.

In the art of paper cutting, winding, printing, or other manufacturingprocesses, such as the making of bags, the operation of the paper or webof material, when moving from a supply reel past certain rolls to thecutter, or to other parts of the machine, nearly always involvesslippage, whereby the paper becomes shifted relative to the cutter orother machine element. Even when there be no slippage, the hygroscopiccharacteristics of paper, or temperature, or both, will cause a changein its dimensions, and also its surface characteristics, with changes ofrelative humidity and/or changes in temperature, with the result thatcertain machine elements will not register with the paper in the desiredmanner. Slippage and the moisture effect may, of course, occursimultaneously.

One object of my invention is to provide for properly registeringcertain regions of a material being operated upon by a machine withcertain elements of the machine.

It is another object of my invention to control the operation ofapparatus operating on a web so that the required operation on the webwill take place at the right point, regardless of slippa e of the web,or changes of dimensions or the surface characteristics thereof.

It is also an object of my invention to provide means for correcting inone continuous operation each departure from registry of a material andcertain elements of a machine operating on it.

Another object of my invention is to control the relative speeds of acutter and the feeding means of a machine, operating on a web, by meansof photo-electric control means.-

A further object of my invention is to control the position of the web,in a'machine operating on a web, by photo-electric control means.

It is also an object of my invention to provide electronic selectivecontrol means for controlling the direction of operation of a motor orother electrical device in response to variations in position of a markon a material operated upon by a machine.

Another object of my invention is to control the relative speeds ofcertain parts of a machine operating on a web and the relative positionsof these part by the cooperative action of photoelectric and thermionicmeans.

A broad object of my invention is to provide photo-electric controlmeans, unaffected by i5 changes in color of the material being operatedupon by a machine or by changes in appearance or by changes in thecharacter or the condition of the material, to control themachine sothat certain elements of the machine are-caused to register with theindicia which may be either on arm the material.

A still further broad object of my invention is to provide acompensating control system, including photo-electric means forcompensating for changes in the color and depth of color of r the web,shade of the web and the character, shade and color of the indicia whichmay be either on or in the web, to register certain elements of amachine operating on a web with selected regions of the web.

A specific object of my invention is to provide a particular speedchanging device for eifecting correction of speed of a web of materialto a predetermined optimum value, when speed changing device willfunction solely on condition that a statically operated discharge tubeand an impulse actuated discharge tube (both photo-electriclallycontrolled) are both operated simultaneous y.

Another specific object of my invention is to provide a registerregulator which has a high speed of correction but which is devoid ofhunting.

The novel features that I consider character- 36 istic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional L objects and advantages thereof,will best be un- 40 derstood from the following description of specificembodiments, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich the single figure is a diagrammatic representation of anelectrical control system embodying my invention. 5 Referring moreparticularly to the drawing, a web of paper I or other sheet material isintermittently out (once per revolution) by a rotating cutter knife (orperforator, or other operating means) 2 by means of a drive extendingfrom the main driving motor M through bevel gears indicated by numeralsI, 5 and 6. Coupled to bevel gear 5 and suitable reduction gearing (notshown) is a scanning disc I (or intermittently operative shutter) havinga slot therein which 55 allows passage 01' a light beam therethroughfrom a light source L, onto photo-tube 20 once every revolution of thescanning disc. A feed roller 6,

the speed of which controls the rate of paper 'the operation of themechanical differential causes the paper to feed too fast. By adjustingthe speed of motor MI it is, therefore, possible to register the paperwith the cutter 2. The control of the motor speed is obtained byadjusting the armature voltage of pilot generator GI by adjusting thefield current of the pilot generator in accordance with the deviation inpaper registry relative to the cutter. In the past, various adlustingschemes have been proposed, such as that involving the use of time delayrelays for affording adjustment for a predetermined period of time. Theequipment described 'so far is well known and does not involve mypresent invention. My copending application Serial No. 201,950, filedApril 14, 1938, (now Patent No. 2,195,006, March 26, 1940), entitledRegister regulator control and of which the present application is acontinuation-in-part discloses such a system.

It is apparent that an arrangement of this type will have an inherenttendency to over-compensate if the speed of response be madehigh, as itis in a control system according to my invention, so that hunting willresult, thus giving decreased accuracy of control. To eliminate hunting,I propose to couple a pilot generator G2 to motor MI. The voltage ofthis pilot generator is proportional to the speed of motor MI. Generallystated, the armature voltage of pilot generator G2 is connected to acapacitor-resistor circuit, which acts on the grid circuit of the tubessupplying current to one field winding of pilot generator GI so that thevoltage of this generator is modulated prior to the instant when thepaper attains the correct register position.

In addition to this anti-hunting feature I provide a; dynamic capacitortype anti-hunting circuit as described in my copending application,Serial No. 273,861, filed May 16, 1939, (now Patent No. 2,221,579,November 12, 1940), entitled Voltage regulators also of which thepresent application is a continuation-in-part. This anti-hunting circuitconsists of an idler motor M2 which is equipped with a flywheel andwhich is connected in series with one field winding III of pilotgenerator GI across the armature of pilot generator G2. If the speed ofmotor MI changes as a result of the corrective action of the registerregulator, the interchange current,

between pilot generator G2 and motor M2, acts on field winding III ofpilot generator GI so as to modify the armature voltage to oppose theinitial change in speed of motor MI.

The position of the paper is indicated in the usual manner by means ofprinted spots 30 reacting on a scanner of well known design. Theposition of the cutter is indicated by means of a selector scanner. Thisscanner consists of the slotted disc I connected to the cutter shaft, a

- photo-tube and a light source. The photo-tube 20 is illuminated onlyif the predetermined position.

The electronic control circuits are as follows: A transformer I2 isconnected to an alternating current supply source. Thyratron tubes I3and I4 supply rectified current to one field winding I I' of pilotgenerator GI. The grid circuit voltage of tubes I3 and I4 consists of analternating current component obtained from transformer I5 through thephase shifting circuit consisting ofcapacitor I6 and resistor II.

This phase shift circuit is adjusted so that when cutter is in adefinite the direct current grid voltage component (that is the directcurrent voltage occurring between points 3| and 32) is zero, theexcitation of pilot I generator GI isof such a value that the paperspeed is equal to the cutter speed. By changing the magnitude and thepolarity of the direct current grid voltage component, the currentthrough tubes I3 and I4 and the voltage of pilot generator GI can bevaried from zero to maximum value.

Photo-tube 23 is mounted in the spot scanner and is connected to highvacuum tube 24 in a well known impulse type circuit, that is, one whoseconductivity varies solely in accordance with the rate of change ofpotential on its grid instead of a sustained value thereof as in staticcontrolled tubes. The impulse type control for the light sensitivedevice may be broadly referred to as a dynamic pick-up means, whereasthe static control may be broadly referred to as a static pick-up means.Tube 24 is connected across the direct current supply source obtainedfrom full wave rectifier 29, and is series connected with high vacuumtubes 25 and 28, and the energy storing, self-compensatingcapacitor-resistor circuits 26 and 21. The purpose of capacitor resistorcircuits 26 and 21 is to prolong the duration of the impulse voltage onthe grid with respect to the wave of the alternating current source ofsupply.

symmetrical about a vertical line-going throughits maximum value, thenonly during the moment of transition between illumination and darkening(or vice versa) of photo-tube 20, while the maximum value of impulsecurrent occurs in tube 24, is the system indicative that the cutter andpaper are in registry and no correction will occur. This is becauseequal portions of the impulse wave go through both resistor condensercombinations 26 and 21 and as the result there will be no direct currentcomponent between points 3I and 32. Illumination of photo-tube 2.0 mayindicate too fast and darkening may indicate too slow (or vice versa),provided that the impulse or a greater portion thereof occurs duringsuch condition of the photo-tube.

The grid control for tubes 26 and 26 is obtained from high vacuum tube2I which is connected in series with a resistor 33 across the directcuraaoasee of tube 25 will be positive and that of tube It will benegative, therefore, charging the capacitor of circuit 21; thus when animpulse on phototube 23 occurs, the current through tubes ii and M willincrease.

The electronic anti-hunting circuit consists of resistor l8 andcapacitor l8. Resistor II is connected in the grid circuit of tubes i3and ll so that when the voltage of pilot generator G2 is increased, thegrid voltage oi tubes l3 and i4 is made more negative. While lightsensitive pickup means have been described, it will be apparent thatinsofar as the broader aspects oi the invention are concerned, otherpick-up means such as condensers or inductance coils may be substitutedtherefor even though they do not have all the advantages of the lightsensitive pick-up means.

I am, of course, aware that'others, particularly after having had thebenefit of the teachings of my invention, may devise other devicesembodying my invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited tothe specific showings made in the drawing and the descriptive disclosurehereinbeiore made, but wish to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims and such prior art that may be pertinent.

I claim as my invention:

1. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that .of said shutter which includes a light sensitive,statically controlled electronic pick-up means which is operated by saidshutter and a light sensitive, dynamically controlled electronic pick-upmeans which is operated by indicia on said web, circuit meansinterconnecting said speed changing device and both of said pick-upmeans for making said speed changing device variable only on con- Idition that said dynamically controlled pick-up shutter which includes alight sensitive device which is intermittently illuminated by saidshutter, a static controlled electric discharge device means is actuatedat the same time said static controlled pick-up means is being actuated.2. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that of said shutter which includes a light sensitive devicewhich is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a static controlledelectric discharge device which is controlled by said light sensitive 4.A register regulator control system for web material. comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that of said 'shutter which includes a light sensitive devicewhich is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a static controlledelectric discharge device which is controlled by said light sensitivedevice, a second light sensitive device energized by said web indicia,an impulse controlled electric discharge device controlled by saidsecond light sensitive device, circuit means interconnecting said speedchanging device and said electric discharge devices, said circuit meansincluding a direct current source, a second pair of electric dischargedevices connected in parallel with said direct current source, each ofwhich includes an anode, cathode and grid, the grids of said second pairof electric discharge devices being alternately controlled in responseto change in illumination of said static controlled discharge device atthe same time that said impulse controlled discharge device isoperative, thereby imposing a control on said speed changing device soas to either increase or decrease the speed thereof to eii'ect registryof said web with respect to said shutter.

5. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the a position of said web withrespect to that of said shutter which includes a light sensitive devicewhich is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a static controlledelectric discharge device which is controlled by said light sensitivedevice, a second light sensitive device energized thereon, a speedchanging device, said web being driven by said driving motor throughsaid speed changing device, means for registering the position of saidweb with respect to that of said by said web indicia, an impulsecontrolled electric discharge device controlled by said second lightsensitive device, circuit means interconnecting said speed changingdevice and said electric discharge devices, said circuit means includinga direct current source, a second pair of electric discharge devicesconnected in parallel with said impulse controlled discharge device andsaid direct current source, each of which includes an anode, cathode andgrid, the grids of said second pair of electric discharge devices beingalternately controlled selectively in response to the particular currentconducting characteristic of said static controlled discharge devicewhich occurs at the same time that said impulse controlled dischargedevice is operative, thereby imposing a control on said speed changingdevice so as to either increase or decrease the speed thereof, toefl'ect registry of said web with respect to said shutter.

6. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that of said shutter which includes a lightsensitive devicewhi h is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a static controlledelectric discharge device which is controlled by said light sensitivedevice, a second light sensitive device energized by said web indicia,an impulse controlled electric discharge device controlled by saidsecond light sensitive device, circuit means interconnecting said speedchanging device and said electric discharge devices, said circuit meansincluding a direct current source, a second pair of electric dischargedevices connected in parallel with said impulse controlled dischargedevices and said direct current source, each-of which includes an anode,cathode and grid, the anode circuits of each said second pair ofdischarge devices including a parallel connected condenser and resistorunit, the grids of said second pair of electric discharge devices beingalternately controlled selectively in response to the particular currentconducting characteristic of said static controlled discharge devicewhich occurs at the same time that said impulse controlled dischargedevice is operative, thereby imposing a control on said speed changingdevice so as to either increase or decrease the speed thereof to effectcorrection of the speed of the web so as to restore said web intoregistry with said shutter.

7. A register control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, operating means driven in synchronismwith said motor, a speed changing device, said web being driven by saiddriving motor through said speed changing device, indicia on said web,means for registering the position of said web with respect to that ofsaid operating means including a statically controlled pick up meanswhich is operated by said operating means, and a dynamically controlledpick up means which is operated by indicia on said web, said speedchanging device being variable to increase or decrease the speed of saidweb solely when said dynamically controlled pick up means is actuated atthe same time that said static controlled pick up means is beingactuated, said speed changing device including a mechanicaldifi'erential which is interposed between said main driving motor and afeed roller for feeding said web, a pilot motor and pilot generator bothcoupled to one of the elements of said differential, a second pilotgenerator having separate field windings one of said generator fieldwindings being variably energized in response to simultaneous operationof both of said pick up means and the other of which is connected inseries with said first mentioned pilot generator armature thereby beingefiective to vary the speed of said-pilot motor in accordance withdeviations of the speed of said web from'its normal value thus changingthe transmission ratio of said mechanical difi'erential and correctingthe speed of said web. i

8. A register control system for web material,

comprising, in combination, motor, operating means driven insynchronism.

a main driving with said motor, a speed changing device, said web beingdriven by said driving motor through said speed changing device, indiciaon said web, means for registering the position of said. web

with respect to that of said operating means including a staticallycontrolled pick up means which is operated by said operating means, anda dynamically controlled pick up means which is operated by indicia onsaid web, said speed changing device being variable to increase ordecrease the speed of said web solely when said dynamically controlledpick up means is actuated at the same time that said static controlledpick up means is operated, said speed changing device including amechanical differential which is interposed between said main drivingmoto and a feed roller for feeding said web, a pilot motor and pilotgenerator both coupled to one of the elements of said diflerential, asecond pilot motor, a second pilot generator having separate fieldwindings one of said generator field windings being variably energizedin response to simultaneous operation of both of said pick up means andthe other of which is connected in series with said first mentionedpilot generator armature and said second pilot-motor armature therebybeing effective to vary the speed of said pilot motor in accordance withdeviations of the speed of said web from its normal value thus changingthe transmission ratio of said mechanical differential and correctingthe speed of said web and registering said web'with respect to saidoperating means.

9. A register control system for web material, comprising, incombination; a main driving motor, operating means driven in synchronismwith operated by said operating means, and a dynamically controlled pickup means which is operated by indicia on said web, said speed changingdevice being variable to increase or decrease the speed of said websolely when said dynamically controlled pick up means is actuated at thesame time that said static controlled pick up means is being actuated,said speed changing device including a mechanical differential which isinterposed between said main driving motor and a feed roller for feedingsaid web, a pilot motor and pilot generator both coupled to one of theelementsof said differentiaha condenser and re sistor connected inseries across the armature of said pilot generator, a second pilotgenerator having separate field windings one of said generator fieldwindings being variably energized in response to simultaneous operationof both of said pick up means and the other of which is con-- nected inseries with said first mentioned pilot generator armature thereby beingeffective to vary the speed of said pilot motor in accordancewith-deviations of the speed of said web from its normal value thuschanging the transmission ratio-of said mechanical differential.correcting the speed of said web and restoring said web into a speedchanging device,.said web being driven by said driving motor throughsaid speed changing device, means tor registering the position of saidweb with respect to that of said shutter which includes a lightsensitive device which is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, astatic controlled electric discharge device which is controlled by saidlight sensitive device, a second light sensitive device energized bysaid web indicia, an impulse controlled electric discharge devicecontrolled by said second light sensitive device circuit meansinterconnecting said speed changing device and said electric dischargedevices so that said speed changing device is varied solely when both ofsaid electric discharge devices are operated simultaneously, said speedchanging device including a mechanical differential which is interposedbetween said main driving motor and a feed roller for feeding said web,a pilot motor and pilot generator both coupled to one of the elements ofsaid differential, a second pilot generator having separate fieldwindings one of said generator field windings being variably energizedin response to simultaneous operation of both of said pick up means andthe other of which is connected in series with said first mentionedpilot generator armature thereby being eil'ective to vary the speed ofsaid pilot motor in accordance with deviations of the speed of said webfrom its normal value thus changing the transmission ratio of saidmechanical diiierential, correcting the speed of said web and restoringsaid web into registry with said shutter.

11. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that of said shutter which includes a light sensitive devicewhich is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a static controlledelectric discharge device which is controlled by said light sensitivedevice, a second light sensitive device energized by said web indicia,an impulse controlled electric discharge device controlled by saidsecond light sensitive device circuit means interconnecting said speedchanging device and said electric discharge devicesso that said speedchanging device is varied solely when both of said electric dischargedevices are operated simultaneously, said speed changing deviceincluding a mechanical differential which is interposed between saidmain driving motor and a feed roller for feeding said web, a pilot motorand pilot generator both coupled to one of the elements 0! saiddifferential, a second pilot motor, a second pilot generator havingseparate field windings one of said generator field windings beingvariably energized in response to simultaneous operation of both oi saidpick up means and the other of which is connected in series with saidfirst mentioned pilot generator armature and said second pilot motorarmature thereby being effective to vary the speed of said pilot motorin accordance with deviations of the speed of said web from its normalvalue thus changing the transmission ratio of said mechanicaldiiierential, correcting the speed of said web and restoring said webinto registry with said shutter.

12. A register regulator control system for web material, comprising, incombination, a main driving motor, an intermittently operative shutterdriven thereby, said web having indicia thereon, a speed changingdevice, said web being driven by said driving motor through said speedchanging device, means for registering the position of said web withrespect to that of said shutter which includes a light sensitive devicewhich is intermittently illuminated by said shutter, a' staticcontrolled electric discharge device which is controlled by said lightsensitive device, a sec ond light sensitive device energized by said webindicia, an impulse controlled electric discharge device controlled bysaid second light sensitive device circuit means interconnecting saidspeed changing device and said electric discharge devices so that saidspeed changing device is varied solely when both of said electricdischarge devices are operated simultaneously, said speed changingdevice including a mechanical differential which is interposed betweensaid main driving motor and a feed roller for feeding said web, a pilotmotor and pilot generator both coupled to one of the elements of saiddifferential, a condenser and resistor connected in series across thearmature of said pilot generator, a second pilot generator havingseparate field windings one of said generator field windings beingvariably energized in response to simultaneous operation of both of saidpick up means and the other of which is connected in series with saidfirst mentioned pilot generator armature thereby being eifective to varythe speed of said pilot motor in accordance with deviations of the speedof said web from its normal value thus changing the transmission ratioof said mechanical diiierential, correcting

